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 The Mission flow or what I call the Apostolic Model begins with engaging the culture and then from those with whom you build relationships forming community. Then and only then do you begin structuring the congregation or the local church.
This is entirely different (in fact, backwards) to the Attractional Model which is the traditional method of planting a local church. In this traditional model you structure your congregation, form a community with a few believers who often come to you because they are upset and turned off by another church. Then, you begin to engage the culture in which you find yourself.
I believe the “starting from scratch” model or the Apostolic approach is much more effective in today’s world in which we, as disciples, find ourselves. Let’s continue to look at this model as we now begin the third phase of our life together - structuring the congregation.
 This final phase isn’t the final phase because it means you are done. It simply represents the reality that everyone who follows the first two phases of apostolic flow will eventually have to figure out: how to hold people together in mission! It does not matter what your definition of church is as long as you realize that if disciples continue to be made, you are going to have to provide at least some structure for their continued growth, connection and common vision.
To undertake this third step you need to understand that structure is not bad. If the structure is encouraging the life flow, the connectedness, and the continuing mission of the church then the structure is valuable. When the structure no longer encourages life then it needs to be removed immediately and without hesitation. So, structure is not bad in itself. Those who reach this stage simply need to understand that structure is always a means to an end and never an end in itself.
You usually do not need to begin to structure a congregation until near the end of the second year. You begin to do this when you have 40 people committed and meeting weekly in “forming community” stage. At least one third of this group should be comprised of people outside of church – in other words, unsaved. So, in reality, you as a leader are holding two different communities together relationally.
Why do I think this way and set these numbers? To put it bluntly, if a leader or “church planter” does not have the capacity to develop multiple communities and hold them together, they may not be wholeheartedly committed to pastoring a church. If a leader has not thought through what happens after the living room is full, they are not likely to fill the living room in the first place. Their lack of vision may limit their intentionality and persistence and the results will be another myopically focused small group. The leader needs to be able to hold together a “network of incarnational communities.” This is a balance between the scattered communities and the gathered corporate movement.
This transition from community to congregation is a key developmental and maturing point. Whether it is helping a jaded past churchgoer reform and reengage the power of the corporate, congregational calling, or helping a new disciple understand their life in context of the greater movement, the leader must inspire people to think beyond their living room.
All leaders must intentionally provide a structure that will continue to gather and scatter God’s people for mission. They must maintain an intentional missional flow. |
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